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Cowboys-Ravens: Four keys to the game
6:00 PM Fri, Dec 19, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Brian Davis
1. Romo's back
Tony Romo practiced this week, but it was painful. The lower back injury he suffered on back-to-back sacks against the Giants took its toll. Romo said that some NFL players like to play through pain, and that's clearly what he'll try to do against the Ravens. Just like last week, the running game needs to have success to take some pressure off Romo. Marion Barber's status is still iffy but Tashard Choice is ready to go after piling up 179 rushing yards the last two weeks against stout defenses. Watch for Choice on screen passes, too. That's how the Cowboys can get Choice in the open field without putting much pressure on Romo to throw deep.
2. Guess who's back
Give Adam Jones credit for his resiliency. The guy simply won't give up. He bounced back from a mid-season suspension and played well defensively against the Steelers. But a bulging disk injury kept him out last week against the Giants. It was thought his season was over. As it turns out, it was a previous injury, and it wasn't as bad as thought. Jones will play on passing downs and maybe see time in the base defense, possibly going one-on-one with Mark Clayton. Some fans don't want to read this, but Jones will also return punts again. He's averaging 4.6 yards per return while Patrick Crayton is averaging 9.5 yards.
3. Challenge Newman
Terence Newman thrives on individual challenges. He smothered Washington's Santana Moss in his first game back from groin surgery. Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes beat Newman deep at Heinz Field, and Wade Phillips said it was "unacceptable." Newman took that as a slap in the face. But it fired him up, too. He blanketed Domenik Hixon and had two interceptions against the Giants. Newman could draw one-on-one coverage Derrick Mason (894 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns). The 12-year pro set a franchise record with 103 catches last season. By shutting down Joe Flacco's top receiver, the defense has more time to blitz.
4. Get tough
The Cowboys like to think they've developed into a tough defense. But Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis defines tough. The always-present middle linebacker leads the second-best defense in the NFL. And they try to intimidate people. Corner Frank Walker was accused of spitting in the mouth of a Pittsburgh player last week. He said that was "just a slobber moment." Terrell Owens has spit in a player's face before, but few Cowboys defenders have been caught doing the same. The Cowboys lead the NFL in sacks (53), not the Ravens (30). Wade Phillips is pushing the right buttons, but does he have players who will get a little dirty?
6:00 PM Fri, Dec 19, 2008 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Brian Davis
1. Romo's back
Tony Romo practiced this week, but it was painful. The lower back injury he suffered on back-to-back sacks against the Giants took its toll. Romo said that some NFL players like to play through pain, and that's clearly what he'll try to do against the Ravens. Just like last week, the running game needs to have success to take some pressure off Romo. Marion Barber's status is still iffy but Tashard Choice is ready to go after piling up 179 rushing yards the last two weeks against stout defenses. Watch for Choice on screen passes, too. That's how the Cowboys can get Choice in the open field without putting much pressure on Romo to throw deep.
2. Guess who's back
Give Adam Jones credit for his resiliency. The guy simply won't give up. He bounced back from a mid-season suspension and played well defensively against the Steelers. But a bulging disk injury kept him out last week against the Giants. It was thought his season was over. As it turns out, it was a previous injury, and it wasn't as bad as thought. Jones will play on passing downs and maybe see time in the base defense, possibly going one-on-one with Mark Clayton. Some fans don't want to read this, but Jones will also return punts again. He's averaging 4.6 yards per return while Patrick Crayton is averaging 9.5 yards.
3. Challenge Newman
Terence Newman thrives on individual challenges. He smothered Washington's Santana Moss in his first game back from groin surgery. Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes beat Newman deep at Heinz Field, and Wade Phillips said it was "unacceptable." Newman took that as a slap in the face. But it fired him up, too. He blanketed Domenik Hixon and had two interceptions against the Giants. Newman could draw one-on-one coverage Derrick Mason (894 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns). The 12-year pro set a franchise record with 103 catches last season. By shutting down Joe Flacco's top receiver, the defense has more time to blitz.
4. Get tough
The Cowboys like to think they've developed into a tough defense. But Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis defines tough. The always-present middle linebacker leads the second-best defense in the NFL. And they try to intimidate people. Corner Frank Walker was accused of spitting in the mouth of a Pittsburgh player last week. He said that was "just a slobber moment." Terrell Owens has spit in a player's face before, but few Cowboys defenders have been caught doing the same. The Cowboys lead the NFL in sacks (53), not the Ravens (30). Wade Phillips is pushing the right buttons, but does he have players who will get a little dirty?